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Bill could keep two midstate air traffic towers open

Written by
Megan Lello and Radio Pennsylvania
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Apr 27, 2013 8:24 AM

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(Washington, DC) -- Two midstate air traffic control towers slated to close under sequestration could now remain open, as part of a bill that's designed to free up Federal Aviation Administration funds.

Photo by Craig Layne/witf

The towers at Capital City Airport in York County and Lancaster Airport were originally slated to shut down as part of automatic spending cuts.

But a proposal co-sponsored by Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Pat Toomey would give Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood the ability to cut the FAA's budget in areas of lower priority.

The Republican lawmaker says the move shows the sequester may not be as devastating as critics had thought it would be. "The savings from the sequester are entirely manageable and entirely achievable, and with a little sensibility, we can do it in a more sensible fashion."

The FAA had canceled hundreds of flights across the country, which prompted pushback on its furloughs of air traffic controllers.

The Obama administration then delayed tower closures until mid-June.

The bill has passed the House and Senate, and awaits President Obama to sign it into law.